How do you eat kumquats? I’ll tell you one simple thing to do so that your little citrus fruit tastes much sweeter! And yes, you do eat the skin!
Do you like kumquats? Do you know how to eat a kumquat?
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Maybe I should back up and make sure you know what kumquats are? I had never heard of them or tried one before I had lived in California for many years, and when I did, I must say I wasn’t fond of their tart flavors.
A couple of years ago, a friend explained to me that in Taiwan they do one simple thing with these little orange fruits (which is rather counterintuitive to do at first, or at least it was to me) and immediately, the kumquat becomes so incredibly sweet! No, adding sugar or a sweetener is not the trick. So there will be no more asking “how do you eat kumquats” after reading this post.
What is a Kumquat?
Kumquats are tiny, oblong-shaped, bright orange citrus fruits (Nagami is the most popular variety of kumquats in the US) with a rather thick skin, considering how small the they are. They have a bit of sweetness to them, but the overall flavor is quite sour when eaten as is. Meiwa kumquats are another variety which are more spherical, have a thinner skin and are more sweet. I grow the Nagami kumquats which are a combination of tart and sweet.
Although they can be eaten fresh, they are wonderful when used for marmalade, lots of citrus dishes, and even liqueurs and cocktails.
I thought I knew how to eat a kumquat, however, there’s a secret to eating fresh kumquats, which I had never heard of, but it makes all the difference in how they taste.
How do You Eat Kumquats
(So that they taste sweeter!)
Are you on the edge of your seat? Here’s the secret: squeeze out the juice! Yes! Believe it or not, a kumquat is completely the opposite of most citrus fruit: the juice is sour and the skin is sweet!
Isn’t that strange? Not only does this make the kumquat sweeter, but it also gets rid of the seeds! Here’s how to do it.
After washing your kumquat, nibble off the skin at the top.
Now squeeze the juice out from the top of the fruit.
Pop the kumquat into your mouth and enjoy the sweet flavor, without any of the sour taste of the juice! Now you know the best way to eat a kumquat!
Can you eat the skin of a kumquat?
Of course the skin of a kumquat is more than edible, it’s actually the sweetest part of the fruit (Nagami variety).
What do kumquats taste like? Do they taste like oranges?
Kumquats have a flavor of their own, and as you’ll learn, the juice is quite sour, whilst the skin is sweet (when fully ripe). They don’t taste like oranges because they are a different fruit, however, they are still citrus, so it won’t be a shocking flavor you will be surprised by.
Are kumquats good for you? Nutritional benefits.
Fresh and cooked kumquats are a great addition to your diet. They are full of fiber, low in sugar, calories (great for diabetics), have almost no fat and zero cholesterol. In addition, they are filled with lots of antioxidants, and vitamins, too. You can pick them up at grocery stores over winter months as they are in season from December to March.
Tips for cooking with kumquats.
- Given that these citrus fruits are so small, be careful when cutting them. Always use a secured cutting board (place a damp paper towel under your board so that it doesn’t slip).
- Use a sharp knife that will cut the fruit easily.
- Be sure to remove the seeds, but that’s all. Remember that you should eat the peel.
Kumquat Recipes
Given that I have had a generous amount of kumquats from my potted kumquat tree on my patio for the last several years, you might say I’ve turned into a sort of kumquat expert! I love cooking and baking with this tiny citrus fruit, and am also delighted to share those recipes with you. Here is a collection of recipes, including some from other recipe creators, which I’ve hand-picked myself (pun intended)! Ha ha!
11 Kumquat Recipes from Breakfast to Cocktails
Since writing this post, I’ve added a recipe for a kumquat cake with orange glaze.
It is truly as sweet as candy! I have told several other friends who have been just as amazed as I was, but so pleasantly surprised. Also, they have very little juice, so it’s not really being wasteful.
If you have tried kumquats in the past and turned your nose up to them, I hope you’ll give them another chance. And if you have never tasted them, don’t forget to try this method. Kumquats are not only delicious, but they are very good for you! Share this with others who may not know how to eat kumquats, too!
How to Eat a Kumquat To Make It Taste As Sweet As Candy
How to make a kumquat taste sweeter, naturally.
Materials
- kumquats
Tools
- none needed
Instructions
- After washing your kumquat, nibble off the skin at the top.
- Now squeeze the juice out from the top of the fruit.
- Pop the kumquat into your mouth and enjoy the sweet flavor, without any of the sour taste of the juice! Easy and delicious!
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how do you eat kumquats?
I have been eating kumquats for over 50 years! It was love at first bite for me. The savory contrast of sweet and sour is what hooked me. I always bite the stem end off first and eat that piece first, as sort of a precursor of what is to come. This little hor d’oeuvre tells you what the main course is going to taste like! The tiny bite contains no juice so you know right away whether or not your kumquat is ripe. If it’s sweet, dive in. But if it’s sour, it’s not going to get any better! I usually spit out the seeds as I go. I would never dejuice the kumquat being that if it’s ripe enough, the juice is not that sour, if at all. I have my own tree that produced several dozen the first year and now six years later produces well over 60 pounds worth! I take most of them to work and introduce my coworkers to them. Most have never tasted a kumquat and those that have say mine are the best they have ever tasted to which I would agree…
A Vietnamese coworker takes them and candies them, which was a new treat to me – very tasty! Will have to get the recipe and post it.
You sound like a true kumquat aficionado, Mark! That’s lovely that your tree is so bountiful and you are sharing your love of this little citrus fruit with others! Thank you for your comment (yes, I’ve seen candied kumquats)!
This is like the spoiled picky kindergartner who won’t eat the crust on her peanut butter sandwich. What a pain (and how gross) it is to use your teeth to gnaw off the end, then you have to be next to a sink, otherwise make a mess? Grow up and acquire a taste for a flavor other than sweet. You’ll be a better adult for it.
The same goes for beer. Not everything good has to taste like hawaiian punch, honey.
Your email or site on your address of “yousuck.com” is perfect for you, Ralph! How apropos for a troll. Btw, I hate Hawaiian Punch, darling.
[…] you may know from my previous post on how to eat kumquats, these little pearls of citrus are the opposite of what we’re used to with oranges and […]
I like kumquats but now I really love them. Thank you for your tip. Kumquats in greece are known only as liqueur, especially in Corfu island.
Someone wrote to me about that liqueur once! So glad you like them better now! :)
Nowv here is some i discovered at the beach yesterday. .. you’ve heard of beer with a twist of lime/lemon…well try it with a kumquat. .. so good!
I believe you, Dolores! Very good idea! I always say I wish I liked beer as it looks so refreshing, but alas, I do not even like the smell :( I know, feel sorry for me! haha! Thanks for the tip! CC
I’m sharing this! Wonderful. Thanks Christina.
Brilliant. Only going to prove one can learn something new every day. Thanks
That is a great tip, thank you. I bought some yesterday and was quite dissapointed with their sour inside, so I ate just the skin. But with your method I get a bit more eating from each. :) There is also a sweeter variety -Meiwa, which is less common. If I would plant one, I would plant that one.
Glad you found the info, it does make a big difference in taste. I didn’t know there is a sweeter variety; thanks for letting me know. :) CC